[1] Let not your heart be troubled:
ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2]
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. [4]
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Background InformationThis is a much loved passage of Scripture. As such, it has been quoted and discussed often.

One issue that is debated is the meaning of the word “mansions” in verse 1. Most newer Bible
translations don’t use “mansions.” The Greek word translated here technically
refers to rooms or dwelling places (from the lexical section of Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible). While we may or may not have separate
houses in Heaven, we can be sure that each of God’s children will have a place
of his or her own. We can also be sure that those places will be wonderful.

Questions1. Where is Jesus now?
2. Who is Jesus preparing a place for?
3. In whose house is that place to be?
4. Where does Jesus promise to take His people?
5. From the related Scriptures, what will that place be like?
6. How can we be sure we are going there?
7. Are you sure you are going there?

Elisha
and a Foreign King

In this story, a king's servant hears the word of God and uses it in a very bad
way.

And Elisha
came to Damascus. And Benhadad the king of Syria was sick, and it was told him,
saying, “The man of God is come here.”

And the king
said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand; and go, meet the man of God, and
inquire of the LORD by him, saying, 'Shall I recover of this disease?'”

So Hazael
went to meet him and took a present with him, even of every good thing of
Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him and said, “Your
son Benhadad, king of Syria, has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover of
this disease?'”

And Elisha said to him,
“Go, say to him, 'You may certainly recover.' Howbeit the LORD has showed me
that he shall surely die.”

And he settled his
countenance steadfastly until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept.

And Hazael
said, “Why weeps my lord?”

And he answered, “Because I
know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel. Their strong holds
will you set on fire and their young men will you slay with the sword, and will
dash their children and rip up their women with child.”

And Hazael
said, “But what is your servant, a dog, that he should do this great thing?”

And Elisha
answered, “The LORD has showed me that you shall be
king over Syria.”

So he departed from Elisha
and came to his master; who said to him, “What said Elisha to you?”

And he
answered, “He told me that you should
surely recover.”

And it came
to pass on the morrow that he took a thick cloth and dipped
it in water and spread it
on his face so that he died.
And Hazael reigned in his stead.

(2 Kings
8:7-15)

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